Here are the moves the New England Patriots should consider when free agency opens at 4 p.m. ET Thursday, March 9:
Prioritize in-house options, starting with LB Dont'a Hightower: The Patriots have a free-agent class as significant and deep as that of any other team in the NFL, and though they aren't placing a franchise or transition tag on Hightower, they still plan to keep a dialogue open with him on a potential return. That will be contingent on what unfolds on the open market for Hightower. From a team perspective, hopefully closing the deal with Hightower -- similar to what unfolded two years ago with safety Devin McCourty -- would get free agency off to a strong start.